The Russian ballet director Sergei Diaghilev commissioned many composers to write music for the theatre. This was what caused Serge Prokofiev to compose the four part Scytische Suite (also known as Ala and Lolli) in 1916 from which The Enemy God and the Dance of the Spirits can be heard on this CD. This suite is one of Prokofiev's first works and received negative criticism following its first performance on account of its being 'uncivilised'. Prokofiev himself wrote after this first performance '. . . The timpani player beat the skin of the timpani to tatters and the whole orchestra voiced a protest. A cellist complained that he only put up with the violence createdby the blaring brass on account of his sick wife and three children . . .'.

Ala et Lolly-Miiniature score version of Sergei Prokofiev's Scythe Suite Op.20 for Orchestra. This work was composed in 1914-15 and was first performed on 16th January 1916 at the Maryinski Theatre Petrograd conducted by the composer. Hawkes Pocket Score 636.

Interestingly there are two different versions of Prokofiev’s second piano concerto the first written between 1912 and 1913 the second written in 1923. However during the Russian Civil War the original manuscript of the Concerto was destroyed in a fire in Prokofiev’s apartment in St. Petersburg. In 1923 he recreated the score from memory effectively composing the second edition of the work which was very different. Prokofiev wrote to a friend: I have so completely rewritten the second concerto that it might be considered the fourth (his third piano concerto having been written in the meantime).At the time of composition the concerto's wild temperamentleft some exalted whereas others were horrified by the jarring and at the time futuristic sound. Today however it is generally recognised as a masterpiece and is one of the most virtuosic works in the piano concerto repertoire.Available here is the Hawkes Pocket Score edition (No.877) of Prokoviev’s virtuosic Piano Concerto No.2 in G minor Op.16 and is ideal for study and perusal usage.

Pocket Score of Prokofiev's light-hearted and much-loved piece that was originally written as a way to introduce children to the sounds and instruments of the orchestra.

Russian composer Serge Prokofiev completed his Symphony No.2 Op.40 In D Minor in 1924 and it is sometimes referred to as Iron and Steel. This is a practical Study Score format (Hawkes Pocket Score 1111) where it has been transcribed and written in C.

In this unique adaptation of Prokofiev's most recognizable work James Curnow has made the traditional narrator optional for concert performances. Impeccably scored in a playable setting. (Grade 3)

A jazzy arrangement of the Prokofiev tune widely identified with the holidays. Cleverly scored by Tom Wallace.